Love letters are not allowed in the exorcism notebook!-Chapter 1017 - 84: Hunting Grounds of Noble Offspring

Some problems can be solved with force, while others cannot.

"I hope you can disguise yourselves as Scavengers, infiltrate the Imperial Academy of Sciences in Avalon, and investigate the project that Professor Maxwell is currently researching."

Holmes offered quite a challenging task right from the start.

Cheng Feng asked confusedly, "Why do we have to do such a task? Foreigners like us entering Avalon, unfamiliar with the place, are prone to arouse suspicion. Why not use locals?"

"Firstly, if I’m not mistaken, both of you are Advisors by profession, correct?"

Holmes directed his gaze toward Cheng Feng and Yan Yu’an: "That gentleman is burly, with eyes filled with contempt for knowledge and an impulse for combat, likely sharing the same profession as my bungling junior. But you two are different. From the moment you walked through the door, you seemed to be engaging me in conversation, whereas in reality, your eyes were scanning the clippings and files plastered on my walls."

"Your hands are too clean, showing traces of firearms training, but without the thick calluses, they look more like ones used for literary work. If you were merely clerical staff, you wouldn’t possess such confidence to exchange intelligence in a foreign land with just a few people."

"The responsibility of exchanging intelligence with me has always been handled by your country’s Secretary Bureau. Their staff are generally of the Advisor profession, unlike the other two gentlemen. The garrison soldier should be from the Special Service Bureau, as he’s shown particular interest in my bungling junior, sneaking glances several times; he must be his junior or subordinate."

"As for you, the long-haired gentleman, you’re the most adept at disguise among the three. Your demeanor and actions emulate a local’s by design. From the moment you entered, you’ve been reading my personal information, trying to deduce my true identity and find common topics to bring us closer."

"If I’m not mistaken, you work in a department that frequently interacts with foreigners. Customs? Or the Immigration Bureau? I think it’s Tianmen Customs. After all, the Immigration Bureau mainly handles paperwork, and placing someone of your talent in an office filling out forms would be a waste of potential."

Wang Yunxiao was sweating profusely.

Damn it, I haven’t even said a word, and they’ve seen through me completely.

Living at 221 Baker Street truly has its perks.

"The reason I need to trouble all of you is not only because your skills can help me gather enough intelligence but also for an important reason—the current situation within Avalon is treacherous. Though I have connections, I’m unsure whom to trust." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Holmes explained, "Recently, several murders have occurred; on the surface, they seem unrelated, yet they subtly point towards Professor Maxwell and his project. It’s hard to say whether it’s a private vendetta or involves political maneuvers at the top level. Hence, I need more intelligence clues for analysis and judgment."

"I understand what you mean. If it’s just about collecting some information, that’s fine, but we know nothing about Avalon’s internal situation, not even the exact location of the Imperial Academy of Sciences."

"You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll provide you with safe identities and intelligence support."

Holmes glanced at his pocket watch.

"It’s getting late today. You can rest here. We’ll set off at seven in the morning. Mrs. Hudson, could you prepare a bedroom for these gentlemen, and... what do we have to offer guests?"

The young woman at the door shrugged.

"Oatmeal, coffee, beans, and a few bottles of Cartier."

"I apologize. Because a certain bungler ate everything edible in my house, there’s really nothing good left to offer."

Holmes cast a somewhat annoyed glance at Huo Qingyang.

It was clear he had strong objections to this freeloading guest.

Though Wang Yunxiao and his companions didn’t mind missing a few hours of rest, they appreciated the host’s kindness. Moreover, they were tired, so they agreed happily.

Following Mrs. Hudson to the basement next door, beds and hot water had already been prepared there, suggesting that visitors were not uncommon.

After she left, Wang Yunxiao couldn’t resist asking Cheng Feng, "What kind of person is this Mr. Holmes? He seems so capable. On our way here, I saw nothing but desolation for ten miles, yet they still have food and drink."

"He’s a noble offspring."

"Noble offspring?"

"His family is from the Upper City. His brother is a high-ranking government official. Earlier, didn’t Bohr tell you about the Scavengers? They’re something like a club formed by a group of noble children. He’s not a Scavenger, but because he’s knowledgeable, he’s famous among them."

"That’s it?"

Cheng Feng shrugged.

Evidently, the rest was inconvenient to explain.

"What exactly is this Scavenger organization? Bohr’s explanation was so convoluted, I never quite understood it."

"Publicly available information suggests that the organization’s precursor is the ’Burial Teams,’ a special forces unit under the ’Clock Tower’ of the United Kingdom’s Wizarding Union. During the Age of Discovery, they were responsible for hunting down various demons and revolutionary groups in overseas colonies, similar to our Special Service Bureau’s job functions, but..."

"The Clock Tower was destroyed by the last major tide, devastating the entire wizarding world. The current so-called ’Saint George’s Protector Society,’ or Scavenger organization, in fact, has no relationship with the Burial Teams of old. It’s merely an amateur club formed by a group of noble children mimicking the former Burial Teams."

Cheng Feng thought for a moment and added, "They have a specialized term, which is hard to translate faithfully, called cosplay."

Ah, now that makes sense.

A cosplay enthusiast club, right?

"They actually don’t practice magic?"

"No, but their equipment is professional, and they can legally shoot and kill."

Oh, hardcore cosplay.

"Then what is the significance of this club’s existence? Lanton has already become a Magic Prohibition Zone. Where are they supposed to find Evil Spirits? Or do they just use exorcism as a pretext to wantonly slaughter the lower-class citizens?"

"Training."

Cheng Feng said, "Avalon has already achieved complete resource circulation, meaning that even if you do nothing inside, you still have food and drink, living a lifetime without worries. But this will spoil people. Those who have experienced much remain mentally stable, whereas young nobles’ life experience is still far from complete."

"Therefore, appropriate training is necessary. Avalon has set aside some resources to build a hunting ground between the Upper and Lower Cities for these young noble children to temper their minds."

"Including so-called rulers of the Lower City District like the Welsh family and the Grey Rat Nest... they’re all specifically set up for them to play with."

"Everyone accompanies those young ladies and gentlemen in acting?"

"Exactly."